Alfred bridges



A. BRIDGES.

Peat Machine.

No. 64.832. 7 Patented May 21,1867.

Witnesses:

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ALFRED BRIDGE-S, or ,NEWTQN, MASSACHUSETTS.

Letters Patent No. 64,832, dated May 21, 1867 i IMPROVED PEAT MACHINE.

W TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN Be it known that I, ALFRED BRIDGES, of Newton, in the county of Middlesex, and State of Massachusetts, have invented 'a new and useful improvement in Hand Peat Machine and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,making a part ofthis specification, in which- Figure 1 represents an elevation of peat machine.

Figure 2 represents a longitudinal vertical section.

Figure 3 represents a duplex peat machine.

Figure 4 represents a stop-spring.

The same letters refer to the same parts in the separate figures.

. The object and purpose of my invention is to construct an effective, inexpensive, a simple and portable machine for compressing peat in brick or other suitable form, and to. be actuated by hand-power, so as to enable every farmer or owner of peat-bogs or swamps to utilize a good fuel without erecting costly machinery and buildings. The machine-may be carried to the place Where peatis dug, and there the peat may be prepared for ready use or storage;

My invention consists in a sleeve or case sliding over a stock or standard, which forms its bottom; also in the mannerof fastening-the pluhger to a lever, and keeping it' by means of a spring-always in proper position for entering the box; audit also consists in the arrangement of a guide-motion for the sleeve, and in the levers to move the sleeve, by one simple motion up, to receive the peat for compression, or down, to allow the finished pressed peat-block to be removed and, lastly, in the construction of a spring, to stop and hold the levers in their respective positions.

To enable others skilled to make and use my invention, will proceed to describe the some with referenceto the drawings. p

In figs. 1 and 2, A is the standard or frame, with stock D; B is the hand-lever, pivoted at a to standard A,

and hearing at b the plunger E, which is provided with the projection d, to which a spring, a, is fastened by ascrew. The spring 0 presses against the under side of hand-lever B; O is the sleeve shown in fig. 1, when ready to be filled, and in fig. 2 pushed down over the stock D. Two bars G, one 'on each side of the sleeve,-and rigidly fastened to it, are attached todouble-armed lever F by screws k is respectively. The double-armed lever F is pivoted at h to the frame. The stop-springs H, of which there are two, one on 'each'side of stock, are bent and provided with grasps i, as shown in fig. 4, for the purpose of springing in and holding lever F when the sleeve 0 is up. It will be seen that sleeve 0 has to follow the circular motion of lever F; to compensate for this motion, the top of stock D, which is exactly at the half-upward motion of sleeve C, is of the same area as the sleeve, but the stock recedes at n from a perpendicular line, gives space for the sleeve to swing back, and thus follows the motion of lever F.

The operation is as follows: Throw the hand-lever B, with plunger C, up; raise lever at m until the spring H has secured the lever F in its grasp; this motion also raises sleeve 0, and the machine is now ready to be charged with the peat. Then bring lever B down and compress the peat. Then push lever F, with sleeve 0, down, and the peat is ready to be removed.

I do not confine myself to one arm or hand-lever, but there may be a double lever to put more force to work, nor do I confine myself to a single sleeve and stock, but two or more may be arranged, as shown in fig. 3. I do not confine myself to compressing pea-t alone, but also other substances.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The arrangement of the sleeve G, passing over stock D, in the manner and for the purpose described herein. 7 I

2. Adjusting plunger E by 11183.18 of projection d and spring a or its equivalent, as above specified. In testimony whereof I have signed my name to thisspecificution in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALFRED BRIDGES. Witnesses:

M. S. G. WILDE, DAVID KELLEHER. 

